Parallel Money

Public cryptocurrencies do two things. First, they cement into code the rules of their financial being. Which is to say, every blockchain project is an island with it’s own tokens and rules. And secondly, they deeply minimize the trust needed for transacting with others.

In contrast, the legacy financial system depends on heavy regulation and data sharing to support it’s inefficiencies. This is to say, without regulation and data sharing, there would be fear of rampant abuse and wide-spread mistrust among themselves. Banks, MSBs, payment processors and card networks do not trust each other by default. And by extension, they do not trust their customers.

These same banking tools used to build trusted, human centric systems at scale also manifest problems of automation and over-compliance. Claims of protecting customers are, in reality, an insular act of protecting self. Customers are continuously surveilled and risk assessed. The net result to customers includes frequent debit card declines and account freezing.

And so it is. dinosaur banking; failing to be fast and efficient. Failing to be a store of value. Re-enforcing why crypto is so damn liberating and increasingly adopted.

Rose Tinted Protocols

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. There are thousands of crypto projects out there - the free market in full swing - but many are destined to fail. Some are worthy of attention; technically brilliant, great teams, open source and good decentralization. Yet almost every single of them has a single implementation of the backend server with no viable alternatives. The specification and it’s reference model is also the product. This means, no matter how good the project is and no matter how diversified the ecosystem is, the stage is set for a potential single point of failure or mismanagement.

Products change direction easier than protocols and a project’s governance may actually disincentivize alternatives. Product complexity may also discourage the development of co-existing alternatives.

True protocols do not survive on reference models alone. Diversification of the backend is the long game. It’s the difference between email - the SMTP protocol - and Gmail the product. Despite all it’s flaws, it persists. Protocol developers may be less interested in the spectacular and more inclined to work together.

Now, amazingly, there are only four blockchain projects with more than one implementation of the backend; Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Zcash (albeit a temporary measure). There are some projects like Cosmos and Polkadot that sit somewhere in the middle; where blockchains are formed from building blocks and developers pick’n’mix the various parts, but this is still a shared codebase.

The key takeaway here is perspective. There are some great products out there, and there are some great investment opportunities, but to have both at the same time is rare.

Take this example: a news story is split into two equal parts, each given the same weight. It seems balanced, right? It suggests the truth lies somewhere in the middle and nudges us to moderate our own opinions. But is that always the case?

Let’s simplify. Imagine buying a juice drink labeled “pineapple and orange.” The words are printed in equal size, perhaps implying a 50/50 blend. But when you check the ingredients, you find it’s mostly orange. Maybe oranges are cheaper, or maybe they just taste better. Whether intentional or not, what matters is clarity.

Back to our news story: it’s presented as neutral and reasonable, but the truth may not lie in the middle at all. To truly understand a topic, we need to consult multiple sources. Relying on just one — even a “trusted” outlet like the BBC — can be misleading. For instance, the BBC may present the same story differently depending on your IP address location. Using a VPN may help.

So, what can we do?

• Diversify your media diet: Seek out global perspectives. Look at both sides of the "facts." Even if you strongly disagree, understanding the other viewpoint helps you see the full picture.

• Travel with intention: Go beyond tourist hotspots. Engage with local communities and cultures. Government narratives often differ greatly from the voices of everyday people.

• Use RSS feeds: This old-school tech lets you follow content without signing up or getting bombarded by ads. It’s clean, direct, and totally in your control.

If you’re passionate about a topic, dig deeper. Don’t settle for surface-level summaries. And if you’ve got ideas to add, I’d love to hear them!

Useful links:

• Feeder on GitHub
• Feeder on F-Droid
• An online RSS reader, zero install, no sign-up required

In a world overflowing with distractions, fleeting attention spans, and a fear of failure, staying productive can feel like an uphill battle. But fear not—here are three fundamental strategies to help you maximize your output and make progress with confidence.

1. Consume Less, Create More

Content creation often seems effortless, like magic conjured in a moment. But behind every polished piece lies hours—sometimes days—of work. The truth is, top creators prioritize producing over consuming because they simply don’t have time to do both excessively.

So, if you want to sharpen your skills and achieve your goals, reduce passive consumption and focus on creating. Whether it’s writing, designing, or building something meaningful, make your output greater than your input.

1. Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone

It’s easy to look at successful people and assume they’ve always had it figured out. The reality? Success is built on a foundation of failure. Behind every triumph, there are countless missteps that remain unseen.

Failure is not a dead-end—it’s a crucial part of growth. The real mistake is refusing to try at all. No one respects inaction, so take risks, step outside your comfort zone, and pursue what matters. If you stumble, at least you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you tried, learned, and adapted.

1. Surround Yourself with the Right People

Your environment shapes you more than you realize. That’s why it’s essential to connect with people who uplift, inspire, and align with your interests and values.

On the flip side, minimize interactions with negativity and those who drain your energy. While it’s wise to be mindful of challenges, it’s even more powerful to seek solutions and align yourself with forward-thinking individuals. The right company will fuel your motivation, giving you the edge to stay productive and optimistic.

How do you handle procrastination, setbacks, and tough relationships? Let’s talk!

The explanation in this video is somewhat simplified. Although not all exchanges sell or share data irresponsibly, their practices could change over time, potentially undermining user trust. Nevertheless, centralized exchanges are subject to regulation by one or more jurisdictions and might be required to disclose data to regulators or law enforcement. For tax purposes, this could include automated data sharing with CRS member countries.

Additionally, an exchange might outsource KYC/AML/CTF transaction risk scoring to third-party companies. In many cases, it is illegal to delete certain data, resulting in the creation of large data silos that hackers consider attractive targets.

The level of detail an exchange possesses regarding its clients and transactions cannot be fully known. However, the larger picture will exist somewhere — whether through outsourcing, automation or government requests.

For these reasons, many individuals are turning to Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) such Bison Wallet and Thorchain. Keep in mind that receiving crypto as payment for services rendered is often the easiest and most direct way to acquire it.

There are many privacy coins but, in my opinion, Beam and Monero are among the best.

Add litecoin if you're comfortable with a bit more risk.